FactsheetYoung People and Alcohol in WalesIntroductionAlcohol consumption in Wales, as in the rest of the UK, has increased markedly in the last 70 years. Drinking among young people, in particular excessive drinking, is a major concern for parents, practitioners and the wider community in Wales.

The Welsh Assembly Government’s Substance Misuse Strategy acknowledges that the misuse of alcohol in Wales is widespread, to the extent that few individuals, families and communities are exempt from its harmful effects.1

This factsheet looks at the existing evidence on young people’s drinking in Wales, highlighting alcohol-related problems that are specific to young people.

Young people’s consumption in WalesIn recent years there have been significant changes in the way young people drink and how much they drink. Overall the proportion of young people who do not drink is increasing. However among those who do drink, there seems to have been an increase in alcohol consumption.

Table 1: Law relating to alcohol and young people (summary)

Under 5 years-old It is illegal to give an alcoholic drink to a child under five, except under medical supervision in an emergency.

Children and Young Person’s Act 1933

Under 16 years-old Children under 16 are allowed on licensed premises as long as they are supervised by an adult, but cannot have any alcoholic drinks. However, some premises may be subject to licensing conditions preventing children from entering, such as pubs which have experienced problems with underage drinking.

Licensing Act 2003

Under 18 years-old It is illegal for anyone under 18 to buy alcohol in a pub, off-licence, supermarket or other outlet or for anyone to buy alcohol for someone under 18 to consume in a pub or public place. The only exception is where young people aged 16 or 17 can drink beer, wine or cider with a table meal if it is bought by an adult and they are accompanied by an adult.

Licensing Act 2003

Under 18 years-old Police have powers to confiscate alcohol from

a) under-18s in possession of alcohol in a public place;

b) someone (in a public place) who intends that alcohol in their possession should be consumed by a person under the age of 18 in a public place.

Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act 1997

Alcohol Concern’s information and statistical digest

November 2009

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The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey2

findings show:

= In 2005/06 amongst 11 year olds in Wales 7% of boys and 4% of girls said that they drink alcohol at least once a week. For 13 year olds, this figure rises to 23% of boys and 20% of girls.

= Wales has a higher percentage of 13 year olds drinking alcohol at least once a week compared to England and Scotland, and of the 40 countries included in the survey Wales has the fourth highest percentage amongst boys and the third highest amongst girls.

= 8% of 11 year old boys and 4% of 11 year old girls in Wales reported that they had been drunk at least twice. Amongst 13 year olds in Wales this figure rises to 27% of boys and 26% of girls, the highest percentage of all 40 countries surveyed.

= Amongst 15 year olds in Wales, 54% of boys and 52% of girls reported being drunk at least twice.

Wales

Factsheet: Young People and Alcohol in Wales

Alcohol Concern’s information and statistical digest2

Figure 1: Percentage of 13-year olds in selected countries who reported having been drunk at least twice

Source: Health Behaviour in School-aged Children 2005/6

Alcohol and young people’s healthChildren and young people can experience severe intoxication through experimental drinking which can be particularly dangerous as they experience coma at lower blood levels and can develop hypoglycaemia (low levels of blood sugar), hypothermia and breathing difficulties.

Statistics show that in 2006 in Wales, 215 boys under 16 years old and 295 girls under 16 years old were admitted to hospital for alcohol-related conditions.3

According to figures from the Welsh National Database for Substance Misuse, of the 15,301 referrals to treatment agencies for alcohol misuse in Wales in 2007-08, 1602 were referrals for people aged 19 and under.4

Drinking styles - transitions in drinkingSeveral stages have been identified in young people’s drinking behaviour which changes with increasing age:5

= 12-13 year olds start tentatively experimenting with alcohol, usually within the family environment. This reflects a desire, especially in boys, to move on from child status.

= 14-15 year olds prefer to drink outside the family environment and are more secretive, hiding their behaviour from their parents. This age group tends to drink to get drunk, with the aim of testing their limits and having fun.

= 16-17 year olds, particularly 17 year olds, move on from experimentation to seeing themselves as more responsible drinkers, with a belief that they know their own limits. They see their early excess use of alcohol as an inevitable part of growing up. The role of parents also shifts as there is a growing acceptance of drinking as part of normal adolescent activity and towards trust in the young person as a ‘responsible’ drinker.

Why do young people drink?Young people drink for much the same reasons as everyone else does – to have fun, to relax, to socialise and to feel more outgoing.6

A study into underage risky drinking7 found that the young people they interviewed cited three main reasons or motivations for drinking:

= Social facilitation – this was the most commonly reported explanation. This was linked to increased enjoyment and comfort in a social situation. It was also related to increased confidence in a social group and in sexual interaction.

= Individual benefits – the reasons for drunkenness were diverse but included escapism, getting a ‘buzz’ and having something to do.

= Social norms and influences – drinking and drinking to excess was seen as part of wider social norms and the accepted culture of heavy drinking, peer influence (including peer pressure) and for greater ‘respect and image’ among the social group.

Although this study was specifically about risky drinking patterns, the authors found that the reasons given were similar to those given in studies of more general populations of young people.

Impact of alcohol misuse on young peopleRegular heavy drinking and binge-drinking behaviours are associated with a whole range of problems including anti-social behaviour, violence, accidents, physical and mental health problems and poor school performance.8

A Europe-wide study concluded that there is a strong relationship between alcohol consumption and school performance and that alcohol can be regarded as both the result and the cause of school failure.9

The UK has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancies in Europe and many young people are having sex earlier than previous generations. It is not possible to identify a direct causal link between alcohol and sex. However drinking alcohol removes inhibitions, makes people feel confident and negatively affects judgement.10

The Chief Medical Officer for England’s guidance on the consumption of alcohol by children and young people11, which followed a review of the latest available medical evidence and data from across the UK, advises:

= An alcohol-free childhood is the healthiest and best option. However, if children drink alcohol, it should not be until at least the age of 15 years.

= If young people aged 15 to 17 consume alcohol it should always be with the guidance of a parent or carer or in a supervised environment.

November 2009

= Parents and young people should be aware that drinking, even at age 15 or older, can be hazardous to health and that not drinking is the healthiest option for young people. If 15-17 year olds do consume alcohol they should do so infrequently and certainly on no more than one day a week. Young people aged 15-17 years should never exceed recommended adult daily limits and on days when they drink, consumption should usually be below such levels.

= The importance of parental influences on children’s alcohol use should be communicated to parents, carers and professionals. Parents and carers require advice on how to respond to alcohol use and misuse by children.

= Support services must be available for children and young people who have alcohol-related problems and for their parents.

ConclusionAlcohol consumption among young people is of particular concern in Wales and the UK. Whilst many young people drink in unsafe ways, the proportion of those who do not drink is increasing and it is therefore important that young people are not unduly stigmatised. Young people may naturally want to experiment with alcohol, and will often adopt the drinking attitudes and styles that they see from adults. Parents and carers therefore play a critical role in raising sensible drinkers and they require accessible guidance about issues concerning alcohol and young people.

In order to reduce the effects of alcohol harms, Alcohol Concern advocates a change in the law making it illegal for children and young people to drink before the age of 15. Further support is needed for parents, teachers and youth workers to spot the signs of early alcohol misuse and provide support and advice.

References1. Welsh Assembly Government Working together to reduce harm: The Substance Misuse Strategy for Wales 2008-2018 (2008) Cardiff: Welsh Assembly Government, pp12 http://wales.gov.uk/topics/housingandcommunity/safety/publications/strategy0818/;jsessionid=nWGJKXLCZJTvn7HJyjbDKFYDLQvvKB00Js1jHPz7GPVzTWdhC8jz!-692465818?lang=en (Accessed 30/09/09)

2. World Health Organisation (2008) Inequalities in young people’s health: HBSC international report from the 2005/2006 survey http://www.euro.who.int/eprise/main/WHO/InformationSources/Publications/Catalogue/20080617_1 (Accessed 30/09/09)

3. Wales Centre for Health and National Public Health Service for Wales (2009) A profile of alcohol and health in Wales Cardiff: Wales Centre for Health.

4. Welsh Assembly Government Welsh National Substance Misuse Database 2007-08

5. Newburn, T. and Shiner, M. (2001) Teenage Kicks? Young people and alcohol: a review of the literature, York, Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

6. Hibell, B., Andersson, B., Bjarnasson, T., et al. (2004) The ESPAD report 2003: alcohol and other drug use among students in 35 European Countries, Stockholm, Swedish Council for Information on Alcohol and Other Drugs (CAN).

7. Coleman, L. and Cater, S. (2005) Underage ‘risky’ drinking: motivations and outcomes, York, Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

8. British Medical Association Board of Science and Education (2003) Adolescent health, London, British Medical Association.

9. Settertobulte, W., Bruun Jensen, B., and Hurrelmann, K. (2001) Drinking among young Europeans, Copenhagen, WHO Regional Office for Europe.

10. Kenny, S. and Blake, S. The health of young people and the substances they use, in McWhirter, J. and Mir, H. (ed.) (2008) Essential guide to working with young people around drugs and alcohol, London, DrugScope.

11. see Department of Health website, http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/index.htm

This Alcohol Concern factsheet provides an overview of some of the issues relevant to young people and alcohol in Wales. It is designed to introduce the topic, rather than be a comprehensive summary.

This factsheet was produced in November 2009.

Young People and Alcohol in Wales is one of a series of factsheets produced by Alcohol Concern. Full details are available on the Alcohol Concern website: www.alcoholconcern.org.uk

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